Pendulum horseshoe projector and target

ABSTRACT

A simulated horseshoe game including a base having a simulated pit area including a stake. A leg extends outwardly from one side of the base with a horseshoe launching area on the leg and a pendulum-like launching member suspended from a support above the launching area. Below the pendulum-like launching area are a pair of rounded abutments of the same curvature as the rounded, barlike portion of a horseshoe playing piece for matingly receiving and orienting the rounded portion of the horseshoe-like playing piece. The support includes a member having a keyhole-like opening therein and the pendulum-like launching member is supported by a chain-like member having spaced apart enlarged and reduced portions to enable the launching member to be lengthened and shortened.

United States Patent [1 1 Glass et al.

[111 3,773,330 Nov. 20, 1973 PENDULUM HORSESHOE PROJECTOR AND TARGET [75] Inventors: Marvin I. Glass, Chicago; Gordon A. Barlow, Evanston, both of I11.

l73| Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates,Chicago,

[22] Filed: Aug. 9, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 170,134

[52] US. Cl 273/100, 273/101, 273/95 A, 273/58 C, 124/42 [51] Int. Cl A63b 71/02 [58] Field of Search 273/95 A, 95 C, 100, 273/104, 101,119 R, 129 R, 38; 24/116 A; 272/82 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1947 Shetler 273/101 3/1965 Copell 24/116 A 735,132 8/1903 McCutchen 273/95 A 1,112,924 10/1914 Lukens 273/101 1,216,382 2/1917 Wenyon.... 273/100 2,009,252 7/1935 Erickson 273/100 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 4/1900 Austria 273/38 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Attorney.lames F. Coffee et al.

[5 7 ABSTRACT A simulated horseshoe game including a base having a simulated pit area including a stake. A leg extends outwardly from one side of the base with a horseshoe launching area on the leg and a pendulum-like launching member suspended from a support above the launching area. Below the pendulum-like launching area are a pair of rounded abutments of the same curvature as the rounded, bar-like portion of a horseshoe playing piece for matingly receiving and orienting the rounded portion of the horseshoe-like playing piece.

The support includes'a member having a keyhole-like opening therein and the pendulum-like launching member is supported by a chain-like member having spaced apart enlarged and reduced portions to enable the launching member to be lengthened and short- 'ened.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PENDULUM I-IORSESI-IOE PROJECTOR AND TARGET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to game devices, and more particularly, to a simulated horseshoe game.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art The game of horseshoes is old and well known. It is a target-type game in that the pit and central stake constitute the target and horseshoes and are the game pieces or missiles.

Recently, pendulum-type launching target games have been developed wherein a pendulum-like striker is used to launch a missile or game piece, or the like, towards a target area. These games have been well received and are simple in structure and execution.

It is the object of this invention to meet the need and desire in the art for an improved pendulum-type target game by providing the horseshoe pendulum-type target game disclosed herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates, in brief, to the provision of a pendulum-type game which simulates the game of horseshoes.

The best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the invention, includes the provision of a base having a simulated pit area with an upstanding stake centrally provided in the simulated pit area. A leg portion extends outwardly from one side of the base and has a horseshoe launching area on the end thereof for generally nestably receiving a horseshoe-shaped playing piece. A support extends upwardly over the leg above the horseshoe launching area and a strand depends from the support and has a ball-like striker element at the free end thereof.

To play the game, the strand is pulled rearwardly and released so that the ball-like striker will hit a simulated horseshoe nestably received in the launching area and launch the horseshoe towards the simulated pit area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the game of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a section view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the launching area portion of the game of this invention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view ofa portion of the strand support utilized with the game of this invention.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The game of this invention includes a base 12 made of a suitable rigid material, preferably, plastic or the like. The base 12 has a simulated pit area 14 which is a tray-like compartment defined by upstanding walls l6, 18, 20, 22 and a bottom 24. The bottom may be covered with a simulated granular surface, simulating a roughened condition, as indicated bymaterial 26, which may be an epoxy or carpet-like material. A stake or post 28 extends upwardly from the central area of the pit 14 through anopening 29 in bottom 24, and is secured to an anchoring member 30 at the underside of the bottom 24. Thus, the pit area 14 is provided with structures and characteristics which simulate a horseshoe pit in the well known game of Horseshoes.

The base 12 includes a leg portion 32 which extends outwardly from side wall 16 and terminates in a launching area 34 at its free end. Launching area 34 includes a pair of upwardly extending pedestals 36 and 38, each of which has curved flanges 36a and 38a for nestably receiving a simulated horseshoe-like game piece 40. The precise shape of the game piece 40 may differ, so long as the game piece 40 simulates a horseshoe, in that it has an open end 40a and a central open area 40b defined by a curved or rounded bar-like member 40c, thereby being generally C-shaped in nature.

A pair of apertures 42 and 44 are provided on launching area 34 adjacent the pedestals 36 and 38. A U-shaped wire form support 46 extends above the launching area 34 and has a pair of legs 46a and 46b which fit in the apertures 42 and 44 to secure the support 46 to the launching area 34.

A strand support member 48 is associated with the wire form support 46. Strand support 48 includes a body 50 having a pair of spaced apart, outwardly directed cars 52 and 54. Each of the cars 52 and 54 includes reduced slots 52a and 54a which terminate in apertures 52b and 54b of a size and shape to snugly fit about the diameter of the wire form support 46. In addition, in the lower end of the body 50, there is provided a keyhole-shaped opening 56'having an enlarged area 56a and a reduced area 56b.

A strand means 58 is provided, here shown in the preferred form of a chain-like member. Strand 58 depends from support 48 and extends through the opening 56 therein. The length of the strand 58 may be adjusted by running the strand through the enlarged portion 56a of opening 56 to permit the passage of the balllike portions 58a therethrough, until the desired adjustment has been made, at which time the link portions 58b of the strand may be dropped into the reduced portion 56b of the opening 56 to hold the strand against movement.

The lower or free end of the strand 58 has a ball-like striker member 60, made of a suitably hard material, such as wood, plastic or the like. Striker 60 has an axial opening 62 through which the chain-like strand extends. Opening 62 terminates in an enlarged end 62a for receiving the retainer 64 to secure the strand 58 with respect to the striker 60.

To play the game, the playing pieces 40 are individually placed on the launching area 34, one at a time, by placing the simulated horseshoe 40 on the launching area 34 so that the rounded portion abuts the flanges 36a and 38a with the open end facing towards the post 28. A player then grasps the striker element 60, pulls it rearwardly, and then releases the striker element for movement through an are, which will intersect the launching area and, specifically, the space between the two pedestals 36 and 38, thereby causing the striker element to hit the rear of the playing piece 40 and propel] the same towards the target area for intended successful impalement about the post 28. If the striker element 60 does not travel through an are which is saitsfactory for producing the desired trajectory in the playing piece 40, the strand 58 may be adjusted, as previously describedflhe scoring of the game can be the same as is the case with the conventional game of Horseshoes with relationship to the amount of points awarded for impalement on the post being of a different value than points for proximity or location closely adjacent to the post.

The game of this invention provides a novel concept in target games, in that it simulates the game of Horseshoes which is a well liked and well understood game. By utilizing a pendulum-like striker element for propelling the horseshoes towards the target area the reality of the game of Horseshoes is provided, yet, the structure involved is small and compact and may be easily utilized in a confined playing area.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A target type game, comprising: a plurality of playing pieces having means defining an opening for impalement on a post, the playing pieces being generally of a horseshoe configuration; a base including a target area having a post projecting outwardly therefrom; a launching area spaced from said target area, said launching area including means for releasably receiving a playing piece thereon and means for launching said playing piece toward saidtarget, including a support and a striker element swingably connected to the support for movement in a path of travel which intersects said launching area, said support including a member having a keyhole-like opening therein and wherein the striker is suspended by a strand means having spaced apart enlarged and reduced portions.

2. A target type game, comprisingz a plurality of playing pieces having means defining an openingfor impalement on a post, said playing pieces being of an elongated horseshoe configuration having an open end and a central .open area bounded on one side by a rounded bar-like portion opposite said open end; a base including a target area having a post projecting outwardly therefrom; a launching area spaced from said target area, said launching area including a pair of spaced apart uprights with each upright having a playing piece supporting surface with a forward end defining an opening between the uprights facing toward said target area, said opening being generally the same width as but less than the length of a horseshoe playing piece; and a rear end for receiving and orienting the playing piece, said uprights each have a rounded abutment at the rear end thereof generally of the same curvature as the rounded bar-like portion of a horseshoe playing piece for matingly receiving and orienting the rounded portion of the horseshoe-like playing piece at the end of said uprights opposite said target area; and means for launching the playing piece toward the target area including a strand support structure extending above the launching area and having a strand depending therefrom with a striker element on the strand, the strand being swingably connected to the support for movement in a pendulum-like fashion through a path of travel between the uprights for engaging a playing piece held thereat and launching the same toward the target area. 

1. A target type game, comprising: a plurality of playing pieces having means defining an opening for impalement on a post, the playing pieces being generally of a horseshoe configuration; a base including a target area having a post projecting outwardly therefrom; a launching area spaced from said target area, said launching area including means for releasably receiving a playing piece thereon and means for launching said playing piece toward said target, including a support and a striker element swingably connected to the support for movement in a path of travel which intersects said launching area, said support including a member having a keyhole-like opening therein and wherein the striker is suspended by a strand means having spaced apart enlarged and reduced portions.
 2. A target type game, comprising: a plurality of playing pieces having means defining an opening for impalement on a post, said playing pieces being of an elongated horseshoe configuration having an open end and a central open area bounded on one side by a rounded bar-like portion opposite said open end; a base including a target area having a post projecting outwardly therefrom; a launching area spaced from said target area, said launching area including a pair of spaced apart uprights with each upright having a playing piece supporting surface with a forward end defining an opening between the uprights facing toward said target area, said opening being generally the same width as but less than the length of a horseshoe playing piece; and a rear end for receiving and orienting the playing piece, said uprights each have a rounded abutment at the rear end thereof generally of the same curvature as the rounded bar-like portion of a horseshoe playing piece for matingly receiving and orienting the rounded portion of the horseshoe-like playing piece at the end of said uprights opposite said target area; and means for launching the playing piece toward the target area including a strand support structure extending above the launching area and having a strand depending therefrom with a striker element on the strand, the strand being swingably connected to the support for movement in a pendulum-like fashion through a path of travel between the uprights for engaging a playing piece held thereat and launching the same toward the target area. 